Before the Feast - A Thanksgiving Prayer

God, You satisfy the hungry heart.

We lift up to You the hollows and voids we feel.
A lack of food or the money to buy it.
A longing for security.
A yearning for a love we can trust.
An ache for a piece of our lives lost,
that stings like a wound that won't heal.
A sigh for an opportunity gone.
The need to belong somewhere, to someone.
A craving to know You, God.
We tell You of this hunger, God, and pray to be filled.

We know we can pray to You,
because we trust that You satisfy the hungry heart.

We have known emptiness before,
and now know the contrast of hearts brimming with blessings.
We have found that our needs have been met,
not just to satisfaction,
but You have filled us with delicacies.
The empty tomb of mourning has been filled,
not just with passing time,
but with peace and comfort.

The echo of loneliness has been muffled,
not just with busyness,
but with love and acceptance.

The yawning cavern of fear and uncertainty has been bridged,
not just by distraction,
but by confidence that You are near.

The hollow purposelessness of our lives have been crammed full,
not just with things
but with passion for You, and for Your ways, O God.

And so we approach You with gratitude,
immense gratitude,
for all that we have, and all that we are,
for everything from the air we breathe to sustain our bodies,
to the love we breathe to sustain our souls.

And we thank You, God,
for satisfying our hungry hearts.

Fill us again, from Your stores which are never depleted.

-- Rev. Karen Ebert in What I Tell My Heart